Electrical Design Engineer

Capella Space; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 91,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an innovative company at the forefront of satellite technology as an Electrical Hardware Design Engineer. You'll lead the design of space-ready electronics, collaborating with top engineers to create robust systems that push the boundaries of Earth observation. This role offers the unique chance to work on hardware that will be launched into space, providing valuable insights for various applications. Enjoy a culture that values mentorship and technical excellence while making a real impact in the industry. If you're excited about tackling complex challenges and contributing to groundbreaking projects, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Extensive medical coverage

Stock option grants

401K Plan

Generous Parental Leave

Paid Flexible Time Off

Lifestyle Spending Account

Commuter & Parking Benefits

Mental Health Resources

Monthly Phone Stipend

Dog-friendly work environment

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in electrical hardware design.
• Proficiency in ECAD tools and lab instruments.

Responsibilities

• Drive full electrical design lifecycle for spaceflight hardware.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure seamless integration.

Skills

Designing and debugging

Analog/Digital design

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Schematic capture and layout

Test planning and verification

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Altium Designer

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Power analyzers

Job description

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most.

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.

What Makes Capella Unique?

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed. We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech.

Why Join Us?

• You’ll ship real hardware to space—and own it end to end
• You’ll work on small, highly-skilled teams with immediate impact
• You’ll grow in a culture that values mentorship, autonomy, and technical excellence
• You’ll help shape the future of Earth observation with modern engineering

About the Role

As an Electrical Hardware Design Engineer, you’ll take ownership of full-cycle PCBA designs—from early concept to flight readiness. You will work cross-functionally with RF, mechanical, software, and operations teams to bring high-reliability, space-ready electronics to life. You will present across disciplines to help facilitate ideas, product readiness and conduct reviews.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive the full electrical design lifecycle for spaceflight hardware: schematic capture, layout, bring-up, test, and manufacturing handoff
• Develop robust analog/digital designs for mission-critical systems under environmental and performance constraints
• Participate and host collaborative cross disciplinary design reviews sharing feedback and shaping solutions with a team of experienced engineers
• Provide critical input to schedule planning and hardware requirements
• Lead board-level bring-up and debugging, integrating firmware/software with embedded systems
• Define test plans and verification strategies that meet flight readiness requirements
• Play a key role in scaling up our manufacturing facility bringing hardware from prototype to low-volume production
• Collaborate across teams—mechanical, RF, software, and systems—to ensure seamless integration
• Mentor early-career engineers contributing to internal process improvements and elevating the overall quality of the team
• Engage with external vendors and CMs, ensuring delivery quality, resolving DFM/DFT issues, and ensuring on-time delivery
• Contribute to failure analysis and root-cause investigations across flight or test anomalies

What Success Looks Like

• You consistently deliver flight-quality hardware on schedule with minimal oversight
• You proactively identify and articulate system-level risks and drive mitigations early
• You communicate across hardware/software and cross-functional gaps with confidence and clarity
• You make thoughtful trade-offs in constrained environments and justify them with data
• You show curiosity about advanced areas like architecture optimization or radiation mitigation—even if they’re outside your scope for now

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience designing and debugging
• Proficiency in Altium Designer (or similar ECAD tools)
• Hands-on experience with lab instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power analyzers, etc.)
• Solid understanding of digital buses (I2C, SPI, UART, RS422, CAN, USB, PCIe, Ethernet etc.)
• Familiarity with board bring-up, test planning, and design verification workflows
• Experience interacting with contract manufacturers, supporting DFM reviews, and resolving production issues
• Strong documentation habits and organizational skills
• U.S. Citizenship or Green Card (required to comply with ITAR regulations)

Nice to Have

• Experience designing for harsh environments (thermal, vacuum, vibration, etc.)
• Familiarity with high-speed design or impedance-controlled layouts
• Basic scripting or automation in Python or C for hardware test workflows
• Exposure to radiation effects and mitigation in electronic design
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC design practices and validation
• Familiarity with satellite electrical systems engineering (propulsion, (EPS) Electrical Power System, (GNSS) Global Navigation Satellite System, (ADCS) Attitude Determination and Control System, space robotics, etc)

Compensation

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $91,187 - $136,780. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity. Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.

Benefits/Perks

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• Stock option grants for new hires
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Generous Parental Leave
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens.
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options

Equal Opportunity Statement

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify [e-mail]

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedInto see our SAR imagery!